Ike Hampton

Infobox MLB retired
name=Ike Hampton
position=Catcher


bats=Switch
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1951|8|22
city-state|Camden|South Carolina
debutdate=September 12
debutyear=by|1974
debutteam=New York Mets
finaldate=July 8
finalyear=by|1979
finalteam=California Angels
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.207
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=4
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=18
teams=
*New York Mets (1974)
*California Angels (1975-79)
*Kintetsu Buffaloes (NPB) (1981)

Isaac Bernard Hampton (born August 22, 1951 in Camden, South Carolina) is a former Major League Baseball catcher. He was signed by the New York Mets as an amateur free agent on August 22, 1970 and played for the Mets (1974) and the California Angels (1975-1979).

Hampton made his major league debut as a pinch hitter on September 12, 1974 at Shea Stadium. Batting for first baseman John Milner in the bottom of the 9th against Al Hrabosky of the St. Louis Cardinals, he flew out to center field. During spring training of 1975, he was traded to the Angels for relief pitcher Ken Sanders.

Hampton's best year in the big leagues was 1977, when he stayed with the Angels for the entire season. In 52 games he batted .295 (13-for-44) with 3 home runs and 9 runs batted in.

Career totals include 113 games played, a .207 batting average (28-for-135), 4 HR, 18 RBI, 15 runs scored, and a .341 slugging percentage. He had a strong arm, and threw out 18 of 48 stolen base attempts. (37.5%)

He was released by California on April 1, 1980. In 1981, he played for the Kintetsu Buffaloes in Japan.

References

*1980 Baseball Register published by The Sporting News

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/h/hamptik01.shtml Baseball Reference]
* [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/Phampi101.htm Retrosheet]